Nox Sanctuary (2)

Fuck. So this is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what the Lord's blood is like. I didn't even pour it into these guys.

"Um... excuse me?"

"Grrr...."

As expected, no communication. Well.

Turning back, the soldiers trembled under my gaze. They looked torn, unsure what this situation meant or how to treat me.

Above all, they must be terrified. I get it. Even I'm baffled by the inexplicable mess.

One stood out among them.

"Ahh...! Deep darkness... Father of the Night...! I am but a foolish lamb... Ahh... Erebos...."

The brown-haired fanatic gripping his greatsword was a prime example.

I had to break this standoff fast. Harvest their necks one by one? Or unleash a massive blood death blast?

The wave's vampires didn't dare meet my eyes, as if it were too presumptuous an honor.

Die if I say die... Huh? A hierarchy gap engraved via blood. Kin aping god-human bonds. Grant power, demand obedience... Maybe.

"Commit suicide."

It was just a hunch. But then.

The mangy dog-pieced beast before me.

The half-formed bat-human behind it.

The red-eyed kin horde after.

All plunged sharp claws into their own hearts.

Like a Mexican wave.

Pfft. Squish. Rhythmic bursts echoed through the arena.

First the heart-pierce, then the gush.

Blood splatters at my feet.

This unreal, gruesome spectacle left me dumbfounded. Cold blood? Useless.

Ah. How the hell do I explain this…

"Ah! How like the myths...! Erebos Scripture, Chapter 1 Verse ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠3! Behold, He commanded death—no one lived; prostrate—no one stood. Between heaven and earth, who defies His voice?"

Adrian handled the explanation. With a hilariously twisted spin.

"Erebos Scripture, Finale Chapter 5 Verse 12! Blood flowed as rivers, flesh rained to earth—He blinked not. His word is the end."

Content-wise, not that twisted...? Insane.

Shut it, please—but couldn't halt the fanatic's rapture.

I was a literal demon god now.

Dunno waves' meaning here. But "revelations" suggest a holy war defense...

Portal-spawned evils kneel en masse, fountain-suicide in blood. Ah. Mythic.

Damn. I fucked up.

"Father of Night, Erebos! Pitying Antaras, You sent Your son!"

The cry roils black-purple aura.

Now I'm dad too.

Please. First time return feels this desperate.

Adrian's A-grade hysterics and the unbelievable scene birthed a prayer rally before Nox Sanctuary.

Soldiers knelt, muttering. Some wept.

No—don't.

No sacrifices? Great. Contribution banked, zero effort? Jackpot.

But what is this?

Vision floods light, floaty feel. Return at last.

Soldiers' eyes gleam brighter on me.

Light-emitting riser. Wait—this screams god.

Still absurd. Taunting alarm window jingles.

"Huu...."

Separate from the wave-turned-testimony-ground.

Why'd they obey me?

Like some novel's insta-kill cheat—vamp horde mass-suicided via kin contract.

No direct contract from me. Not even a vampire.

Qualified, huh... Kin contracts engrave existence hierarchy. Adrian said similar.

Flipped with Rozalin, vamps controlled—probably my rank's high...

Existence rank—what is it?

One clear: Vampire society's a nightmare maze.

Blood swap sparks cross-dimension chat...

Dimension? Factor too?

Dimensions, ranks—vague guesses whirl.

Huh?

...Again?

No time to sort thoughts—white light yanks me to a sunset-dyed plaza.

Nox arrival: crying Adrian greets.

Not alone. Civilians, soldiers—all gaze reverently.

My statue looms behind, as ever. Now... something small beside it.

Fuck—me.

"Twilight of the world. Predestined end. Pitying Antaras' night amid trials, anew manifest. How radiant! Beautiful paradox! Ah, Father! Eye in dark beholds me—not my sight dimmed, Your black profound. Now I know: that black is love!"

Nonsense scalds my ears on hear.

"Hespera."

"Speak, Ereb."

Ereb? Erebos' son?

Now names too?

"What're you doing."

"Ereb Scripture drafting hit a divide..."

Hespera trails.

Ereb Scripture? Bible on me?

"...First. Disperse 'em all."

I whispered to Hespera.

"Obey, Ereb."

She bows gracefully.

"Hespera. Adrian too—barracks."

Swallowing shame, barely herded them inside.

"Wave info first. Why summon again?"

"Obey, Ereb. Foes: dumb beasts. Muscle monsters, animal heads—Nox braves handle easy. Worry not."

Wave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grasped.

"Next."

"Foolish summon brought Ereb here—endless regret. Mid-Scripture debate, fools missed divinity..."

"Stop."

"Pardon?"

Please. Breathe.

"Hespera. You don't buy it anyway. Beyond Adrian. I'm uncomfortable. Casual, please."

"...Yes."

Soft reply. Faint smile—she finds it funny too.

How'd a scamp like her saintess?

"Hey! Saintess! Blasphemy! Rude to the legion!"

Adrian barges, predictably.

Huh. Déjà vu. Aimed at me, surely.

"You. Adrian. Mouth shut."

"Ereb, obey."

"Shut."

"Mmph-mmph!"

Gagged Adrian. Press on.

Here already—commander's knowledgeable. Questions galore.

Highest wave sans Nakan.

"Divinity witness... Sigh. Waves first. Clear, then talk."

Soldier-clear? Contribution tanks—1,600 Cron to agency.

No.

Stay costs worse. I clear.

"Pardon?"

"Tell me your knowledge. Antaras, waves, commanders—all."

"...Okay."

Peak thirteen-year-old girl vibe.

My serious face scare her? Huddled—kinda sorry.

"No biggie. Just chat. Block wave—no soldier deaths."

"Ahh... Engrave on heart. Unworthy Adrian chews words to field..."

"No speak order yet."

"Mmph!"

God's son? Handy rank...

"Heh."

Thirteen giggles.

Relentless waves. One relax moment? Enough.

Distant thumbnail-blue portal shimmers.

Nox troops forward-deployed wall-front.

Morale peak-ever. Me, probably.

Black-purple aura churns ugly.

Sacred Mountain barbarian horde? Hard tell.

No shields.

"Adrian. Nox legion bravery?"

"Mmph!"

"...Speak."

"Thanks. Erebos-blessed elite elites. Crush any. Ereb, oversee please."

"Ha, oversee."

"Ah—sorry. Your servant. Bravery check enough. That's wish."

Speech maddening.

Horizon dust rises—wave strides.

Beastmen—bull-heads, horse-heads, sheep-heads—hoof-thunder charge.

"Not that."

"Pardon?"

"Follow your 'divinity' talk. Watch."

Shadow-dive, forward dash.